One of the world's most famous cities. Hollywood! Venice Beach! Beverly Hills! Sunset Boulevard! Bathe in the light, the glamour and the buzz, see why this city became the epicentre of one of the most exciting industries on earth.
✨ Highlights of your Holidays to Los Angeles
World-famous beaches strung along the Pacific: Santa Monica Pier, Venice Boardwalk, Malibu's dramatic cliffs, and the family-friendly stretches further south where the waves are warmer and the crowds thinner
Hollywood and the film industry on full display: the Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Sign from Griffith Observatory, studio tours at Warner Bros and Paramount, and Universal Studios theme park up in the hills
Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and the Sunset Strip: the most concentrated dose of celebrity-spotting and luxury shopping anywhere in the US, and genuinely worth a wander even if you're not buying
An incredible food scene that goes way beyond burgers: world-class tacos in East LA, fine dining in Beverly Hills, plant-based pioneers in West Hollywood, and legendary food trucks on practically every corner
📌 Good to Know
☀️ Weather is reliably warm year-round, summer (June to September) is hot and dry at 25-29°C, winter (December to February) stays mild at 20-22°C, and there's a famous "June Gloom" marine layer of grey morning cloud that burns off by lunchtime in early summer
💵 Let's be honest - LA is the city of dreams, but dreams aren't cheap, restaurant meals cost more than London (a sit-down lunch is $20-30 a head, dinner $40-60+, a beer $8-10, a cocktail $18-25), plus 18-20% tipping on top.
🎬 LA is built on the film industry but most Angelenos work in entirely unrelated fields, the city of 4 million has the third-largest economy of any US metro area and is also the country's biggest manufacturing hub, biggest port, and home to the most museums
Los Angeles is perfect for you if...
You wanna see where your favourite films were made
You're a theme-park family who wants Universal Studios, Disneyland in nearby Anaheim, and proper beaches all in the same trip
You want to live the American dream with guaranteed sunshine, palm trees, and a beach at the end of every boulevard
You want rooftop cocktails at sunset followed by a taco truck at midnight
You've always wanted to drive the Pacific Coast Highway, and you need a base that puts you right at the start of it
What are the best beaches in the Los Angeles?
You don’t need to travel far from the hustle and bustle of an LA city break before you find the ocean. There are 15 beaches across the county where you can mingle with the glamorous locals, catch a wave, or relax on the sands. Here are some of the best:
Santa Monica State Beach is the headline act: wide, sociable, and anchored by the famous pier with its Ferris wheel and street performers. The best people-watching in the city, and the Metro E Line drops you right there.
Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey is the family pick, with calm, shallow water and a proper playground. Smaller and more sheltered than the open-ocean beaches, which makes it ideal for younger children.
Venice Beach is the bohemian one, with boardwalk performers, street art, Muscle Beach outdoor gym, and enough character to fill an entire afternoon just walking and watching.
El Matador State Beach is tucked into the Malibu cliffs with dramatic rock formations and crashing waves. Properly photogenic and quieter than the city beaches, though the access stairs are steep.
Carbon Beach backs onto some of the most expensive houses in California, earning it the nickname "Billionaire's Beach." Surprisingly accessible and beautifully maintained.
Surfrider Beach in Malibu is where the serious surfers go. Even if you're not catching waves yourself, watching from the pier with a coffee is a properly LA way to spend a morning.
🏨 Where to Stay on your Los Angeles Holidays
LA's hotel scene is vast and the right neighbourhood matters more than in most cities. The headline spots are Santa Monica (beach and walkable), Hollywood (iconic and central), Beverly Hills (luxury and shopping), Downtown (urban and cultural), and Huntington Beach (family-friendly surf city). Have a look at our picks below or browse all LA hotels for the full range.
👨👩👧👦 What are the best family hotels in Los Angeles?
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. Direct beach access with the Slyders Water Playground (three slides and a kids' pool), Camp Hyatt children's programme, and a lagoon-style swimming pool. Built for families and right on the sand.
The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel. Oceanfront in Huntington Beach with two pools (one with water slides), the Driftwood Beach Club with fire pits on private sand, and proper family setup that keeps everyone happy.
The Garland. A Universal Studios Preferred Hotel Partner with a free trolley to the theme park, retro-cool poolside vibes, and family suites that give everyone breathing room. Brilliant base for an LA-plus-Universal trip.
Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. Between Hollywood Hills and Studio City with a free daily shuttle to Universal Studios, a swimming pool, and family-friendly dining. Suites with separate living areas for bigger families.
💑 What are the best hotels in Los Angeles for couples?
Hollywood Roosevelt. On Hollywood Boulevard with proper old-school glamour. Marilyn Monroe reportedly stayed here for almost two years. The Tropicana pool, on-site nightclub, and cult-classic poolside movie screenings make this the most iconic couples' pick in the city.
Viceroy Santa Monica. Beach-vibe boutique four minutes' walk from Santa Monica Beach with complimentary beach yoga twice daily, indoor-outdoor dining, and rooms with proper Pacific views. Properly stylish.
W Hollywood. Modern and design-led right on Hollywood Boulevard with the Delphine Bistro, a lively cocktail bar, and the kind of social pool deck that makes you feel like you're in the right place.
Kimpton Everly Hotel. Across the street from the Capitol Records building, three-minute walk to the Walk of Fame, with rooms offering Hollywood Sign views and yoga mats in every room. Brilliant location for couples doing the Hollywood thing.
✨ What are the best luxury hotels in Los Angeles?
The Peninsula Beverly Hills. Five-star Beverly Hills with a rooftop lap pool, Italian marble bathrooms, tropical gardens, and a stroll to Rodeo Drive. The discreet luxury choice where the staff anticipate what you need before you ask.
Beverly Hilton. The Golden Globes hotel in central Beverly Hills with an oasis-style outdoor pool, daybeds, the Aqua Star spa, and walking distance to the Beverly Hills Sign and Rodeo Drive. Properly iconic.
Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza. Downtown LA's polished option with a rooftop pool overlooking the city skyline. Sleek, well-located, and the kind of hotel that feels special without trying too hard.
🎉 What are the best hotels in Los Angeles for groups?
Queen Mary Hotel. You're genuinely sleeping aboard a historic ocean liner moored in Long Beach. Properly memorable group experience, plus the ship tours and onboard restaurants are an event in themselves.
The Portofino Hotel and Marina. Waterfront Redondo Beach with ocean and marina views, away from the central LA buzz. Perfect for a group wanting a coastal base with water sports and seafood on the doorstep.
Freehand Los Angeles. Part hotel, part social hub in Downtown LA. The rooftop pool is the gathering spot, the lobby bar is lively, and the shared spaces are designed for exactly the kind of holiday where everyone meets in the corridor at 7pm saying "right, where are we going?"
💰 What are the best value hotels in Los Angeles?
DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown. Solid Downtown pick with city views, an indoor pool, and easy Metro access to the rest of LA. Reliable mid-range value in a central spot, and the warm cookie at check-in is a genuinely nice touch.
Hampton Inn and Suites Santa Monica. Ten-minute walk to Santa Monica Pier with free breakfast, outdoor pool and hot tub, plus a Metro E Line stop nearby for easy LA exploring. Serious value for the location.
The Normandie Hotel. An artsy boutique vibe in Mid-City, walking distance to Koreatown's restaurant scene. Properly priced for a creative-leaning city break and one of those places that gives LA its character.
🗣️ Local Lingo
English is the main language but Spanish is everywhere in LA thanks to the huge Latino population (about half the county). A few useful phrases plus essential LA slang:
Hola (OH-la) - Hello (Spanish is the city's unofficial second language, spoken widely across LA)
Gracias (GRAH-see-as) - Thank you
June Gloom - The marine layer of grey morning cloud that hangs over the coast in late spring and early summer. Burns off by lunchtime, and the afternoons are gorgeous.
The 405 - The famous (infamous) LA freeway. Locals always say "the" before freeway numbers: "take the 10, then the 405." If someone says "the 405 is backed up," that's LA for "we're going to be late."
Angeleno (ang-guh-LAY-no) - What LA locals call themselves. Use it in conversation and you'll sound like you've been before.
SoCal (SO-cal) - Short for Southern California. Used constantly by locals to distinguish from NorCal (San Francisco and north). LA is the SoCal capital.
Dude - Used for everyone, regardless of gender. "Dude, you have to try this taco" could be someone addressing their best friend, their date or their mum.
PCH - The Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1). The iconic coastal road that runs from LA up to San Francisco and beyond. Locals always abbreviate it.
🌍 Where to Stay in Los Angeles
LA is a constellation of distinct neighbourhoods more than a single city, and the right base saves hours of driving. Here's the breakdown by demo.
👨👩👧 Families
Huntington Beach is the family pick, a 10-mile sandy beach, surf-school energy and big resort hotels with kids' pools and water slides. Anaheim is the move if you're focusing on Disneyland, with hotels right opposite the parks. Santa Monica works for families wanting beach + walkable city, the Pier rides and aquarium are right there, and the Metro E Line gets you into central LA without driving.
💕 Couples
Hollywood for the iconic LA experience, walking distance to the Walk of Fame, Sunset Strip nightlife, rooftop bars and old-school hotels with serious heritage. Beverly Hills for proper luxury, Rodeo Drive shopping, Michelin-starred dining and the most famous postcode in the city. Santa Monica for beach-meets-city romance, sunsets over the Pacific, Pier walks and a more relaxed pace than central LA.
👯 Groups
Long Beach for a waterfront group base with the Queen Mary, the Aquarium of the Pacific, easy access to LA proper but its own pace. Hollywood for the nightlife scene, plenty of group-friendly hotels and the LA experience that everyone wants. Downtown LA for the urban side, sleek high-rise hotels, rooftop bars and walking distance to the Crypto.com Arena (Lakers/Kings) and the LA Live entertainment complex.
✈️ Holidays to Los Angeles – Travel Guide 2026 / 2027
👨👩👧👦 What are the best things to do on a Los Angeles family holiday?
Universal Studios Hollywood is the big-day-out theme park, with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the Studio Tour through the backlot, and proper rollercoasters. Easy half-day or full-day depending on energy levels and how much the kids love Harry Potter.
LA Zoo in Griffith Park has a properly varied collection plus the Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel. Easier-going than the bigger theme parks, and Griffith Park itself is worth exploring.
A sunset cruise from Long Beach or Marina del Rey makes a brilliant non-driving evening with the kids. The Pacific sunsets are properly spectacular and everyone gets to sit down for a bit.
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is a brilliant rainy-day or post-beach activity. The touch tanks and shark lagoon keep younger kids entertained for hours.
Spend a beach day at Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey for very young kids, or Huntington Beach for older ones who want to try a surf lesson.
💑 What are the best things to do for couples on a Los Angeles holiday?
Take a guided studio tour at Warner Bros, Paramount, or Sony Pictures for the proper behind-the-scenes look at how films and TV actually get made. Genuinely interesting even if you're not a film buff.
Drive Mulholland Drive at sunset. The winding road along the top of the Hollywood Hills with views over the city on one side and the Valley on the other. One of those drives that photographs beautifully but looks even better in real life.
Dinner at one of the Beverly Hills restaurants followed by cocktails at a rooftop bar in West Hollywood. The food scene is exceptional across every price point, and the rooftop bar culture is properly LA.
Hike Runyon Canyon at sunrise or Griffith Park for the Griffith Observatory and the closest legal viewpoint of the Hollywood Sign. Pack water and wear proper shoes.
Spend an afternoon at the Getty Centre or Getty Villa, both free to enter (just pay parking), with stunning architecture, gardens, and serious art collections.
🎉 What are the top things to do for groups on a Los Angeles holiday?
Hit the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood for the legendary nightlife scene, from the Whisky a Go Go to The Roxy to the rooftop bars. A proper group night out that you'll talk about for years.
Catch a gig at the Hollywood Bowl, an outdoor amphitheatre where you can bring your own food and drink to the picnic tables. A properly LA evening that works for any music taste.
Day trip down the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu, stopping for fish tacos and beach hopping along the way. Rent a car big enough for everyone and make a day of it.
Beer crawl through the Arts District in Downtown LA. The area has a serious craft brewery scene plus great street art and food between stops.
Catch a Lakers, Clippers, or Kings game at the Crypto.com Arena Downtown, or a Dodgers baseball game at Dodger Stadium for the proper American sports experience.
🏝️ More Destinations
California, the wider state with San Francisco, Napa wine country and the Pacific Coast Highway
America, the full US destination hub with every major city and resort
Las Vegas, four hours' drive (or one-hour flight) from LA, the obvious add-on for a US road trip
Florida, the East Coast counterpart with Miami, Orlando and the Keys
New York, the East Coast city alternative for the classic US double-act trip
Popular Los Angeles hotels
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Weather in Los Angeles
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Los Angeles enjoys some of the most reliable weather of any major city on the planet.
Summers (June to September) are hot and dry at 25-29°C, with barely a drop of rain between May and October.
Winters (December to February) stay mild at 18-22°C, cooler in the evenings but still comfortable for exploring.
The famous "June Gloom" marine layer brings grey mornings to the coast in early summer, but it clears by lunchtime. September and October are arguably the best months: the summer crowds thin out, the temperatures stay warm, and the light is gorgeous.
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FAQs
How long does it take to fly to Los Angeles?
How long does it take to fly to Los Angeles?
It takes around 11 and a half hours to fly to Los Angeles from the UK.
What's the time difference between the UK and Los Angeles?
What's the time difference between the UK and Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is 8 hours behind the UK and Ireland year-round. When it's midday at home, it's 4am in LA. The time difference stays at 8 hours whether you're travelling in summer or winter, because both the UK and California shift their clocks in the same direction although there are a few weeks each year when they're not quite in sync and the time difference is just 7 hours.
What language do they speak in Los Angeles?
What language do they speak in Los Angeles?
The official language spoken in Los Angeles is English.
What currency do they use in Los Angeles?
What currency do they use in Los Angeles?
The official currency used in Los Angeles is the US Dollar.
Do I need a visa to visit Los Angeles?
Do I need a visa to visit Los Angeles?
Passport holders from the UK and Ireland can visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa under the Visa Waiver Programme, but you do need an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before you fly. It costs approximately £17 / €20, is valid for two years or until your passport expires, and you should apply at least 72 hours before departure. Your passport needs to be an e-passport with a digital chip. Apply through the official CBP website only, not through third-party sites that charge inflated fees.
When's the best time to visit Los Angeles?
When's the best time to visit Los Angeles?
March to May and September to November are the sweet spots, warm but not hot, smaller crowds than peak summer, and the lowest hotel prices. Summer (June to August) is hot, busy and most expensive but reliable for swimming and outdoor stuff. Winter (December to February) is mild (20-22°C) but cooler in the evenings, with occasional rain, and properly atmospheric for a city break.
Do you need a car in Los Angeles?
Do you need a car in Los Angeles?
Depends on your trip. If you're staying in Santa Monica, Downtown or Hollywood and sticking to nearby attractions, you can manage with the Metro and Uber/Lyft. If you want to do Malibu, Pasadena, day trips or really explore the city, a hire car makes life much easier. LA was built for cars, public transport works for some routes but not others, and Uber adds up over a week.
Is the Pacific Ocean warm enough to swim in?
Is the Pacific Ocean warm enough to swim in?
Cooler than UK visitors expect. The Pacific runs 16-18°C in winter and only reaches 19-21°C at the height of summer (August-September). It's much colder than the Mediterranean or the Caribbean, which is why most beachgoers wear wetsuits for surfing and many don't swim much at all. The beach culture is more about lying on the sand, walking the boardwalks and watching the surfers than spending hours in the water.
Are there resort fees at Los Angeles hotels?
Are there resort fees at Los Angeles hotels?
Most US hotels charge a mandatory resort fee (sometimes called a "destination fee" or "facility fee") on top of the booked room rate, typically £11-£19 / €13-€22 per room per night. The fee usually covers things like pool access, fitness centre use, and local calls. As of July 2024, California law requires hotels to include all mandatory fees in the initially displayed price, so the price you see when booking should be the price you pay. That said, it's worth checking the fine print at booking to avoid surprises at check-in. These fees are standard across the US and not unique to any specific hotel chain.
Is Los Angeles good for an all-inclusive holiday?
Is Los Angeles good for an all-inclusive holiday?
Los Angeles is not a traditional all-inclusive destination. The city's hotels generally operate on room-only or bed-and-breakfast basis, because the whole point of LA is getting out and exploring the incredible food scene, from taco trucks to rooftop restaurants. That said, several hotels include complimentary breakfast (Hampton Inn, DoubleTree, and others), which saves a noticeable amount over a fortnight. If you want the closest thing to all-inclusive, look for resort-style hotels in Huntington Beach or Santa Monica that include beach access, pool facilities, and on-site dining. The real value in LA comes from mixing hotel convenience with the city's affordable street food and free attractions (beaches, hiking, the Getty, Griffith Observatory).
